Monthly Archives: April 2016
Mils Muliaina will be playing in the new Pro League in the USA
Next Sunday afternoon at 16:00 Pacific Standard Time a little piece of rugby history will be made. The 1st match of a brand new USA pro-league will kick off when Sacramento face San Francisco on Bonney Field. The venture has the blessing of both World Rugby and USA Rugby, although it is entirely independent of either governing body. There are only 5 teams competing in the league – Denver, Ohio and San Diego in addition to the 2 above – but for US rugby this may just be the acorn from which a rugby oak emerges.
The money man is Doug Schoninger, who worked in the financing of stadiums but boasts no background in rugby. The man in charge of the rugby is a Scot, Steve Lewis, who has been steeped in the game since growing up in Glasgow and whose resume is a good deal more exotic than most.
After turning out for West of Scotland alongside the likes of Matt Duncan, Gerry McGuinness and a young Gordon Bulloch, Lewis emigrated to the US in the early 1990s. He has coached a wide variety of teams around the world from the West Point Ladies, the Beit Jala Lions (in Palestine), Nigeria’s national team, Vail Rugby, Old Blue and the New York City Sevens side that won the plate final at Twickenham in 2013. Lewis was named the USA Coach of the Year in 2014.
As rugby director of the new league it is his task to populate those 5 teams with the best players money can buy: well, the best players that UD$ 35 000.00 can buy. And if that doesn’t sound like a king’s ransom it was enough to tempt fullback Mils Muliaina and his 100 All Black caps to play a 12-match season that stretches just 3 and a half months (17 April – 31 July). The league kicks off when the American Football season is over and before the baseball has become interesting.
Maties (0) 6 / 7 (0) Pukke (Final Score)
FNB Maties (University of Stellenbosch) and NWU-Pukke (North West University) did battle
in the Varsity Cup Final of 2016 at Danie Craven Stadium, Stellebosch at 19:00 SA Time (17:00 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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Saturday’s games:
The European Rugby Champions and Challenge Cup quarterfinals matches which were played yesterday (Saturday) were all fiercly contested affairs.
In the 1st Champions Cup quarterfinal Ashley Johnson’s London Wasps beat Don Armand’s Exeter Chiefs by the narrowest of margins. Wasps Jimmy Goperth converted Frank Halai’s try which was scored after regular time was up on the clock to send Exeter crashing out of the competition.
Victor Matfield’s Northampton were beaten in the2nd Champions Cup quarterfinal by a Saracens team that featured various players with Southern African connections. Brad Barritt, Schalk Brits, Petrus du Plessis, Neil de Kock, Michael Rhodes and Alastair Hargreaves all featured for Saracens who won the match by 9 points.
Kings (6) 6 / 38 (17) Bulls (Final Score)
The Southern Kings and Vodacom Bulls did battle in Super Rugby 2016 at
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth at 19:15 SA Time (17:15 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Sharks (6) 9 / 24 (18) Lions (Final Score)
The Cell C Sharks and Emirates Lions did battle in Super Rugby 2016 at
Growthpoint Kings Park, Durban at 17:05 SA Time (15:05 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Reds (22) 28 / 27 (6) Highlanders (Final Score)
The Reds and Highlanders did battle in Super Rugby 2016 at
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane at 11:45 SA Time (09:45 GMT, 19:45 AEDT, 21:45 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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Hurricanes (21) 40 / 22 (12) Jaguares (Final Score)
The Hurricanes and Los Juguares did battle in Super Rugby 2016 at
Westpac Stadium, Wellington at 09:35 SA Time (07:35 GMT, 19:35 NZ Time, 04:35 ARG Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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Francois Steyn celebrates Montpellier win over Sale Sharks
Montpellier head coach Jake White cannot wait to return home triumphant for their European Rugby Challenge Cup semifinal, after beating Sale Sharks in their own backyard.
The side sat 2nd in the Top 14 turned on the power in the 2nd half after a tight 1st half. Benoit Pallaugue hit 6 penalties to steer his side to a 25 / 19 triumph, despite a late solo score from Sale centre Sam James.
The victory for Montpellier has set up a last-4 clash against either Challenge Cup champions, Gloucester, or the Newport Gwent Dragons. White is targeting a pair of victories on home soil in their pursuit for European glory.
He said: “I’m obviously very happy, it wasn’t that pretty, we didn’t play that well and we made a few mistakes which allowed them field position, and they put us under the pump. But it’s a new squad and Montpellier have never got themselves in positions like these, so I’m very happy that we can take another step forward.
Stormers (27) 46 / 19 (5) Sunwolves (Final Score)
The DHL Stormers and Sunwolves did battle in Super Rugby 2016 at
DHL Newlands, Cape Town at 19:00 SA Time (17:00 GMT, Saturday 02:00 Japan Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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WP (20) 30 / 16 (16) Blue Bulls (Final Score)
DHL Western Province and the Vodacom Blue Bulls did battle in the Provincial Cup 2016 at
DHL Newlands, Cape Town at 16:15 SA Time (14:15 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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Force (6) 19 / 20 (13) Crusaders (Final Score)
The Western Force and Crusaders did battle in Super Rugby 2016 at
the Perth Oval, Perth at 13:00 SA Time (11:00 GMT, 19:00 AWST, 23:00 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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Chiefs (10) 29 / 23 (6) Blues (Final Score)
The Chiefs and Blues did battle in Super Rugby 2016 at
Waikato Stadium, Hamilton at 09:35 SA Time (07:35 GMT, 19:35 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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Gary Gold
A SANZAAR Judicial Hearing conducted by Nigel Hampton QC (New Zealand) has found Cell C Sharks coach Gary Gold guilty of misconduct under the SANZAAR Code of Conduct following the Cell C Sharks vs Crusaders match 2 weekends ago.
Gold admitted a charge of misconduct, which also involved 2 breaches of the Super Rugby Competition Rules, by engaging with TMO (TMO) Johan Greeff during the 2nd half of the match.
In his finding Hampton concluded that, by his own admission, Gold had approached the TMO on 2 separate occasions (65th and 71st minutes) and had used crude and insulting language towards the official.
It was found that, by his actions, Gold had clearly breached Super Rugby Competition Rule 3.8 (7) “That no person may engage, or attempt to engage with a TMO during a match in relation to the TMOs officiating in the match.”
Hampton also found that Gold’s actions had breached the SANZAAR Code of Conduct Section 8.3 (l) which states: “All persons shall not use crude, insulting or abusive language towards Match Officials.”
Joe Marler
England prop Joe Marler has been banned for 2 matches and fined £ 20 000.00 by World Rugby for calling Wales forward Samson Lee “Gypsy boy”.
Marler, 25, had avoided punishment by The RBS 6 Nations organisers, but World Rugby conducted its own investigation.
He made the comment in England’s RBS 6 Nations win over Wales in March and had an apology accepted by prop Samson.
The Rugby Football Union said Marler would not appeal against the decision and considered the matter closed.
World Rugby, the sport’s global governing body, said it had “Exercised its right to take appropriate action before an independent judicial committee in the absence of such a process by Six Nations Rugby in accordance with the regulations”.
A horror misunderstanding cost Currie a shot at their 3rd championship title as Heriots snatched a dramatic last-gasp victory in Saturday’s BT Premiership semifinal at Malleny Park.
A ding-dong battle in which the lead changed a total of 5 times appeared to have swung decisively in the home side’s favour when No 8 Ross Weston finished off a driving maul for his 2nd try of the afternoon to put Currie 22 / 21 up with minutes remaining.
Heriots pushed for a response but, when they knocked on to concede a scrum, it looked like their dreams of a double (or treble if you include the Charity Shield) were over.
Currie kept possession as the clock ticked down but scrumhalf Richard Snedden was premature with the boot out and the Goldenacre side were given a lifeline, which they took superbly by setting up replacement flyhalf Gregor McNeish for his 2nd drop goal with the last kick, to spark wild celebrations in the away camp.
It means Heriots, who 1st face Melrose in the BT Cup final a week on Saturday, will travel to Millbrae to face Ayr on 23 April and look to retain their Premiership crown.
Maties (29) 49 / 11 (11) UP-Tuks (Final Score)
FNB Maties (University of Stellenbosch) and FNB UP-Tuks (University of Pretoria)
did battle in the Varsity Cup 2016 at the Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch at 19:00 SA Time (17:00 GMT).
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
Scorers:
Maties:
- Penalties – Ernst Stapelberg (4)
- Drop Goals – 0
- Tries – Edwil van der Merwe (1), Brandon Asher-Wood (1), Beyers de Villiers (2), Remu Malan (1)
- Conversions – Ernst Stapelberg (5)
Tuks:
- Penalties – 0
- Drop Goals – 0
- Tries – Dries Swanepoel (1)
- Conversions – Joshua Stander (3)
Waratahs new CEO Andrew Hore
Could Leinster, Munster, Ulster and Connacht one day be taking on the Bulls, Highlanders and Waratahs?
If you believe new New South Wales chief executive Andrew Hore, then the answer is yes.
Hore is leaving his post with Welsh side Ospreys to join the Australian Super Rugby outfit in mid April, and the New Zealander sees a potential future link-up as beneficial to both competitions.
Hore has had a ringside seat in recent seasons as the huge influx of financial muscle into the French Top 14 and England’s Premiership has threatened to leave European rugby’s poor Celtic relations trailing behind.
The southern hemisphere has also felt the commercial weight of French and English riches, with an increasing number of top-class players heading north in their primes for a big payday.
But the prospect of competing against the high-quality teams in Super Rugby would certainly offer television companies a more enticing product, according to Hore.
Waratahs (3) 17 / 21 (21) Rebels (Final Score)
The Waratahs and Melbourne Rebels did battle in Super Rugby 2016 at
Allianz Stadium, Sydney at 08:05 SA Time (06:05 GMT, 16:05 AEDT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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Bulls (20) 23 / 18 (10) Cheetahs (Final Score)
The Vodacom Bulls and Toyota Cheetahs did battle in Super Rugby 2016 at
Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria at 19:10 SA Time (17:10 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Kings (23) 33 / 28 (20) Sunwolves (Final Score)
The Southern Kings and Sunwolves did battle in Super Rugby 2016 at
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium at 17:05 SA Time (15:05 GMT, Sunday 00:05 Japan Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Brumbies (13) 23 / 48 (20) Chiefs (Final Score)
The Brumbies and Chiefs did battle in Super Rugby 2016 at
GIO Stadium, Canberra at 10:40 SA Time (08:40 GMT, 19:40 AEDT, 21:40 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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Blues (15) 24 / 16 (6) Jaguares (Final Score)
The Blues and Los Jaguares did battle in Super Rugby 2016 at
QBE Stadium, North Harbour at 08:35 SA Time (06:35 GMT, 19:35 NZ Time, 03:35 ARG Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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Lions (20) 37 / 43 (22) Crusaders (Final Score)
The Emirates Lions and Crusaders did battle in Super Rugby 2016 at
Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg at 19:00 SA Time (17:00 GMT, Saturday 06:00 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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Highlanders (14) 32 / 20 (14) Force (Final Score)
The Highlanders and Western Force did battle in Super Rugby 2016 at
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin at 08:35 SA Time (06:35 GMT, 19:35 NZ Time, 14:35 AWST).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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